In last week’s message I talked about the invisible war that is going on around us. It is a dark, diabolical, deadly war, a form of guerilla warfare with sabotage, subversion, innuendo, and sniping. The first few words of the song “It Is Finished” tell us about that war. “There’s a line that is drawn through the ages. On that line stands an old rugged cross. On that cross, a battle is raging For the gain of man’s soul or it’s loss.” This war has less to do with politics and more to do with spiritual matters than the average person realizes. The abusive, bitter, and hateful language toward any and all who stand for true biblical, Christian values is evidence of that. Many, especially among teens and your adults, are just spouting things they have heard and seen on social media without any anchor or frame of reference for the opinions. Few people actually think today. They just act, react, and speak without thinking. This war is a battle between light and darkness. It is a war between life and death. It is a battle between Heaven and hell. “On one side, march the forces of evil, All the demons, and the devils of hell. On the other, the angels of glory . . . ” Whether we like it or not, every child of God is called to be a part of this war. When we were saved we were not called to enter a “Sunday School picnic” but a war. In this war we cannot afford to be ignorant, idle, or neutral. Some little boys were sitting around talking and laughing. Mom asked, “What are you doing?” They said, “We’re playing war.” “We’re generals.” The Lord’s church is not a showboat, or a cruise ship, it is a battleship! II Timothy 2:3-4 tells us of the attitude of a good soldier: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (What kind of soldier are you?) (Are you seeking to please your Commander?) You and I have not been discharged from this army. If you are not in this battle, it is because you have deserted (AWOL). It is high time to take up our positions and be strong in the Lord. Remember the words from last week. Right now, while we have the opportunity, we had better speak up before the world shuts us up . . . and it will try its best to shut our mouths. (And it has done a pretty good job so far.) I am sure the we are all familiar with these verses from Ephesians 6. We have probably heard many sermons from them from many different preachers. These verses clearly tell us of: 1) Our Adversary. 2) Our Armor. 3) Our Attack. Our text also instructs us how to dress us up in our battle gear and to get right into the midst of the fight.

I. THE ADVERSARY -- VS. 11.

II. THE ARMOR -- VV. 13-17.

III. THE ATTACK -- VV. 10, 18.